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My Favorite Hostas
Jeannine Churchill Apple Valley, Minnesota

H. ‘Sun Power’ has always made me smile because of its
bright color. As a younger plant, it had to endure losing parts to
be shared with friends, but that never seemed to slow it down
as far as its size. On July 13, 2022, this plant measured 87” RICK SCHROEDER
wide by 35” high. Paul Aden registered the plant in 1986 at 36”
high by 24” wide.

H. ‘Paradigm’ is a relatively new hosta in my yard—planted
here in 2019. I realize now that it is not achieving the desired
light green leaf center except in the leaves that are shaded by
leaves above them. And yet, I like this plant because in 3 years,
at its current size of 48” wide by 24” high, it has grown to slightly
exceed the expected size, it seems to have fended off the twigs,
hail, slugs, and other problems often associated with August
and September in zone 4, and the color combination is still eye- RICK SCHROEDER
catching from across the yard.

H. ‘Allegan Fog’ My first major investment in hosta
educational materials was the 2004 version of The Color
Encyclopedia of Hostas by Diana Grenfell and Michael
Shadrack. Imagine my surprise when I turned to page 337 and
found a chapter on “Hostas with Streaked, Stippled, Flecked,
Marbled, Misted & Unusually Marked Leaves.” On page 39 was
a picture of Hosta ‘Allegan Fog.’ Well, you just know I had to RICK SCHROEDER
have it, and I finally found it at a reputable online nursery. To be
honest, my H. ‘Allegan Fog’ isn’t exactly meeting the
expectations set by the published description of 18” wide by
13.5” high. The plant in my photo measured 54” wide by 25”
high on July 13 of this year. It remains one of my favorites, and,
to be honest, that’s because so many people are stunned by its
size.

H. ‘Ocean Isle’ came to my yard about 2010 when I was
searching online nurseries for something different. I planted it in
the front yard, believing the registered size of 40” wide by 20”
high. On July 13, 2022, my ‘Ocean Isle’ measured 68” wide and
31” high. This is a good thing—it’s in the neighborhood with H.
‘Sum and Substance’, so it doesn’t look out of place. In fact, I HAROLD MCDONELL
might even fertilize it for next year.

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